A revealing interview with martial artist Richard Norton has shed new light on action star Steven Seagal‘s deep respect for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, particularly the legendary Machado brothers.
In a candid conversation shared on a recent podcast, Norton revealed Seagal’s profound admiration for the Machados’ grappling prowess.
“I remember him saying to me he said oh man I don’t know how you would defeat one of those guys you know they’re that good,” Norton recalled, highlighting Seagal’s genuine respect for their martial arts mastery.
This respect eventually led to a professional collaboration when Seagal reached out to Norton about potentially featuring the Machados in one of his upcoming films. The discussion resulted in John Machado and another Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert being cast in Under Siege 2, where they performed a memorable action scene on a train.
“I knew Steven Seagal, and we were friends. Steven called me, asking about the Machados and what I thought about using them in one of his movies, which happened to be Under Siege 2.”
“I’d read where Steven trained in BJJ, but actually, the only training he did was for that fight scene with, I believe, John Machado in Under Siege 2. But yeah, I remember the absolute respect Steven had for the Machados.”
An interesting detail emerged about Seagal’s relationship with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during this period. While some sources had suggested Seagal trained extensively in BJJ, Norton clarified that his training was specifically focused on preparing for the scene with Machado in Under Siege 2.
The collaboration proved beneficial for both parties. While Seagal gained authentic martial arts representation for his film, the Machados were thrilled to work with the prominent actor in a major Hollywood production.
